Spokane Valley, WA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Washington State Building Code (IBC/IRC)
- Shed exemption
- One story, under 200 square feet
- Low deck exemption
- 30 inches or less above grade
- Application validity
- One year, extensions up to 180 days
- Permit expiration
- Two years from issuance if unstarted
- Unpermitted work fee
- Investigation fee equal to permit fee
- Max misdemeanor fine
- $1,000 and 90 days jail
Summary
Spokane Valley adopts the Washington State Building Code, including the International Building and Residential Codes, under Title 24 SVMC. A permit is required for most construction, but the city exempts small one-story accessory sheds and low decks, sidewalks and driveways from that requirement.
The City hereby amends the adopted State Building Code as follows: A. The International Building Code. 1. Amend Section 105, Permits, as follows: a. Section 105.2, Work exempt from permit, Building: 1. to read as follows: One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (11.15 m2). b. Section 105.2, Work exempt from permit, Building: Item 6. to read as follows: Item 6. Decks, sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the lowest adjacent ground level within six feet horizontally of the edge of the deck, sidewalk or driveway and where a guardrail is not required by other sections of this code, and not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route.
Full Breakdown
020, incorporating the International Building Code and International Residential Code with Washington amendments, and that adoption is what makes a permit the default requirement for building work citywide. 040(A)(1): a one-story detached accessory structure such as a tool shed or playhouse skips a permit only if its floor area stays under 200 square feet, and a deck, sidewalk or driveway is exempt only if it sits no more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, needs no guardrail, is not over a basement or story, and is not part of an accessible route.
Anything bigger or taller needs a permit like any other structure. 030(B)(1), with extensions capped at 180 days apiece; an issued permit itself expires if work is not commenced within two years of issuance or not completed within two years after the first required inspection. 020(D).
Violations & Fines
Starting work before a permit issues triggers an investigation fee under § 24.40.030(B)(5) equal to the permit fee that would otherwise have applied, owed whether or not a permit is later granted, and paying it does not legitimize the work. Beyond that fee, permit violations fall under the city's general penalty at § 1.10.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail, or a civil infraction of at least $250, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense under § 1.10.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small storage shed in Spokane Valley?
How long is a Spokane Valley building permit application valid?
What happens if I start construction before getting a permit?
Can a low deck be built without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane Valley
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